Related to telecoms

• US 20010046279A1
• Filed: 05/15/2001
• Published: 11/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Host Telecom Limited, Tamiras Per Pte Ltd LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC), Viztone Limited
• Original Assignee: Viztone Limited
• Inventors: Butterworth, Martyn Ian
• Granted Patent: US 8,391,449 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5322 for recording text messages

Abstract

The invention concerns improvements to telecoms systems. In the proposed method and apparatus, an image (which may have advertising content) is displayed to a caller and a recipient prior to relaying a caller message. This supplementary image may take the place of conventional text such as CALLING. On audio/visual equipment, an audio message may take the place of a ringing tone.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting pre-recorded images using telecom networks, whereby when telecommunications apparatus is used by a caller to send a message to a recipient, a supplementary image is visually transmitted from messaging equipment to the caller in addition to, or to replace, conventional connection messages.

2. The method of

claim 1

, wherein if, during transmission of the supplementary image to the caller, the telecommunications apparatus establishes a connection with the recipient, then the display of the supplementary image is terminated.

3. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the supplementary image is transmitted to accompany a message text relayed to the caller so that if the telecom apparatus is not answered by the recipient during a predetermined time period, the image which the caller sees is replaced by the conventional message text.

4. The method of

claim 1

, wherein a message to be transmitted to the recipient from the caller is a mixed media audio/video message and, wherein a supplementary image is presented for viewing to the caller prior to connection between caller and recipient being established or prior to transmission of the message from the caller.

5. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the image has an advertising and/or information content.

6. The method of

claim 1

, wherein a supplementary image is presented for viewing to the caller prior to connection between caller and recipient being established.

7. The method of

claim 1

, wherein supplementary images are conveyed only to telecom system users who have indicated a willingness to receive such images.

8. The method of

claim 1

, wherein supplementary image insertion is available to all network service providers.

9. A method for transmitting pre-recorded images using a telecommunications network, in which a recipient of the transmission sees a pre-recorded supplementary image upon receiving transmission, the image being relayed, prior to connection between caller and recipient being effected or prior to transmission of a message from the caller.

10. The method of

claim 9

, wherein in the case of text messaging, the supplementary image is placed before, after or in the text of the text message to the caller.

11. The method of

claim 9

, wherein the supplementary image seen by the recipient is the same image as that seen by the caller.

12. The method of

claim 9

, wherein a message to be transmitted to the recipient from the caller is a mixed media audio/video message and, wherein a supplementary image is presented for viewing to the caller prior to connection between caller and recipient being established or prior to transmission of the message from the caller.

13. The method of

claim 12

, wherein the supplementary image seen by the recipient is the same image as that seen by the caller.

14. The method of

claim 9

, wherein the image has an advertising and/or information content.

15. The method of

claim 9

, wherein a supplementary image is presented for viewing to the caller prior to connection between caller and recipient being established.

16. The method of

claim 9

, wherein supplementary images are conveyed only to telecom system users who have indicated a willingness to receive such images.

17. The method of

claim 9

, wherein supplementary image insertion is available to all network service providers.

18. Apparatus for transmitting pre-recorded images using telecom networks, whereby when telecommunications apparatus is used by a caller to send a message to a recipient, a supplementary image is visually transmitted from messaging equipment to the caller in addition to, or to replace, conventional connection messages, wherein the apparatus comprises:

means for detecting a signal on a telecom system indicating that there is an incoming message transmission; and

means for responding to this detection by conveying a supplementary image or images to the caller.

19. Apparatus according to

claim 18

, wherein the apparatus is arranged to insert a supplementary image or images into the message and relay the message with inserted supplementary image(s) to a recipient.

20. The apparatus of

claim 19

, wherein in the case of text messaging the supplementary image(s) is/are inserted in a part of a message from the caller and will be visible to the recipient on retrieval of the text message.

21. The apparatus of

claim 18

, wherein a message to be transmitted to the recipient from the caller is a mixed media audio/video message and, wherein a supplementary image is presented for viewing to the caller prior to connection between caller and recipient being established or prior to transmission of the message from the caller.

22. The apparatus of

claim 18

, wherein the apparatus comprises cellular/wired telecommunications systems and other terrestrial or satellite transmissions, or email transmission systems capable of receiving text messaging.

23. The apparatus of

claim 22

, wherein the telecommunications system is configured so as to convey such supplementary images only to system users who have indicated a willingness to receive such images.

24. The apparatus of

claim 18

, wherein the supplementary image also has an audible message associated with it and transmitted to the caller during a predetermined time period.

25. The apparatus of

claim 24

, wherein the predetermined time period is selected by an advertising organisation.

26. Apparatus for transmitting pre-recorded images using telecom networks, wherein a recipient of the transmission sees a pre-recorded supplementary image upon receiving transmission, the image being relayed, prior to connection between caller and recipient being effected or prior to transmission of a message from the caller, the apparatus comprising:

means for detecting a signal on a telecom system indicating that there is an incoming message transmission; and

means for responding to this detection by inserting a supplementary image or images into the message transmission.

27. Apparatus according to

claim 26

, wherein the apparatus is arranged to further transmit a supplementary image or images to a caller.

28. Apparatus according to

claim 26

, wherein the apparatus is arranged to insert the supplementary image(s) into the message and relay the message with inserted supplementary image(s) to a recipient.

29. The apparatus of

claim 26

, wherein in the case of text messaging the supplementary image(s) is/are inserted in a part of a message from the caller and will be visible to the recipient on retrieval of the text message.

30. The apparatus of

claim 26

, wherein a message to be transmitted to the recipient from the caller is a mixed media audio/video message and, wherein a supplementary image is presented for viewing to the caller prior to connection between caller and recipient being established or prior to transmission of the message from the caller.

31. The apparatus of

claim 26

, wherein the apparatus comprises cellular/wired telecommunications systems and other terrestrial or satellite transmissions, or email transmission systems capable of receiving text messaging.

32. The apparatus of

claim 31

, wherein the telecommunications system is configured so as to convey such supplementary images only to system users who have indicated a willingness to receive such images.

33. The apparatus of

claim 26

, wherein the supplementary image also has an audible message associated with it and transmitted to the caller during a predetermined time period.

34. The apparatus of

claim 33

, wherein the predetermined time period is selected by an advertising organisation.